Russian Attacks Kill Four, Injure Dozens Across Ukraine on Eve of War's Fourth Anniversary

Deadly Strikes Precede War's Fourth Anniversary

At least four people were killed and 26 others injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine on February 23, 2026, the day before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. The widespread assaults targeted multiple regions, causing civilian casualties and damaging infrastructure.

Impact Across Ukrainian Regions

The attacks resulted in fatalities and injuries in several oblasts:

• In Odesa Oblast, a Russian drone strike claimed the lives of a 20-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man, and injured three others. Industrial, energy, and civil infrastructure facilities were hit in the region.
• Zaporizhzhia Oblast reported two deaths and four injuries from Russian strikes. Governor Ivan Fedorov stated that Russian forces carried out over 750 strikes on 44 settlements in the region. One drone attack on an industrial facility specifically killed a 33-year-old man.
• Donetsk Oblast saw four people injured in Druzhkivka and one in Kramatorsk due to Russian strikes.
• In Kherson Oblast, five people were injured across 39 settlements, with a multi-story apartment building and 15 houses damaged.
• Dnipropetrovsk Oblast was also affected, with a health resort in the Pavlohrad district targeted, injuring one man. Additionally, three women were injured in a separate attack on the Nikopol district.

Nature of the Assaults

Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia launched 126 drones and an Iskander-M ballistic missile overnight. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 105 drones. However, at least 20 drones and the ballistic missile penetrated defenses, striking 11 locations.

Anniversary Context and International Response

These attacks occurred on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022. The timing coincided with a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels, where discussions were underway regarding further support for Kyiv and potential new sanctions against Moscow. The ongoing conflict is now entering its fifth year, marked by continued civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.